SKY FAIRIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 17, 21 January 1939, Page 10

SKY FAIRIES

(Original.)

(A Fairy Tale by "Maid of Astolot," 12, Hataitai.)

ETHEL was wandering in the woods. Suddenly she stopped/for right in her path was a circle of mushrooms. With, a little cry she stooped down and picked up a tiny ring of plain gold. She knew it was lucky, she knew it was a fairy ring. She touched it lightly and turned it round and round. "I'll hold it and stand in the mushroom ring," she said. The next moment she felt a queer, sinking sensation. She wondered what all this was till she saw she was the height of the mushrooms. "Shut your eyes," said a voice like soft, falling rain, "I will take you to the Sky Fairies." Ethel Shut her eyes. "Open them," said the same soft voice. Again Ethel obeyed and to her amazement she was seated in a carriage drawn by two fantails, and she was flying through the air.t She turned to lopk at her companion. Oh! Ethel had never seen anyone so ~ beautiful before. "I will take you to Skyland, of which I am Queen," said the musical voice. \ "Thank you so much," said Ethel shyly. Next instant they arrived at Skyland. What at first had appeared to be lifeless masses of fluffy white clouds, looked from the top like a hive of busy bees. ; "I will accompany you round," said the Queen. . ■ - ' Their tour of inspection was something which Ethel never forgot. . . First she was shown the flocks of Skyland. These were all.little lambs . that gambolled and frisked in the sunshine. The Queen took some sugar lumps out of a little bag and fed them. As they walked to view the town an old woman with a huge bropm and a sky-scraper hat hurried by, wildly waving her broom in the air. . "Who is that?" asked Ethel. ' ' "That is Mother Cloud," explained the Queen, "she brushes the cqbwebs from the sky." l ■ , . "Oh! I always wondered why the sky was so clean and nice,' said Ethel. " "Father Cloud polishes the sky after- her, but/he has a cold, and so Mother has to do both jobs," continued the Queen. < ; The town was a beautiful little, place with all the buildings like castles and the sunlight glinting on every turret. Ethel liked,the little people too.* They scurried by with a smile for all. They all were'dressed in pretty white frocks and tunics. The Queen said she would take Ethel to see where the frock material was made. They were conducted to the largest-castle in the town. Inside was a hum of industry. All /were twisting and weaving the most delicate strands of cloud. The finished article was the cobwebby lace in which they were all garbed. ■ - Ethel was next shown a pretty blue flower which she was told was the sky larkspur. She plucked a sprig and the scent reminded her of lavender, honeysuckle, roses, sweet peas, spices, and all the sweetest things she had ever smelt " . ,:,.,., . , ~ ■ \i_ , -The next sight was a small pump which gave forth winds to the sky. "They help Mother Cloud, too," -said the Sky Queen. Close by was a large tap with a short, little, old man. 1 A "I am Mr. Prophet," said the man, "this is my rain tap." They then reached the end of that cloud, and wishing to go to a small cloud floating nearby, they hailed a sky cruiser and were taken across the in- '■:■ tervening space. : . " ' It was a pretty cloud with soft billows allv over it. Zoooom! Zoooom! The Queen- quickly pulled Ethel into a little pocket ob the extreme "edge of the cloud. Everyone did'likewise. ' The Queen explained, "These days of aeroplanes always mean danger for us. We have made these pockets for safety." v The aeroplane passed over with a flash of silver wings and everyone jumped ur again. .... "You had better go now," said the Queen. Ethel rubbed her eyes—she was in the mushroom ring once more. She seemed to hear the silvery voice again. "Thank you," she whispered. "It was lovely." ! She blew up a kiss to the sky and ran home. She entered the door just as the sunset shone on the last silvery cloud.